jAYANTHI kALPAH

Jayanthi Kalpaha

Jayanthi is yOga.  The yOga is Rohini nakshathra.  Jayanthi means victory.  If in ShrAvana mAsa, in Krishna paksha, in Ashtami, yOga comes then it is Jayanthi.  In the mid-night if, Rohni yOga comes then it is Jayanthi; i.e. called “Krishna Jayanthi” which is very auspicious.  KrishnAshtami comes usually in ShrAvana mAsa in Krishna paksha.  If fasting is done on this day, it amounts to 20 crores of EkAdashi vrutha.  Krishna avatAr took place in Bhadrapada mAsa, Krishna paksha on Ashtami day, which happened to be an Adhika mAsa.  (Adhika mAsa comes once in 33 months in Chandra mAna).  In Soura mAna KrishnAshtami comes in Simha mAsa. If KrishnAshtami falls on a Monday or a Sunday it is very auspicious.

In the morning bath must be taken by uttering the following mantra:

                        “YOgAya YOgapatheyE YOgAshwarAya

                          YOgasambhAvAya Shree GovindAya NamO Namaha”

The bath must be taken three times on this day by uttering the above mantra.  One must remember VAsudEva while taking bath.

Bilva pathre must be offered to Lord Krishna.  Panchamrutha Abhisheka must be performed.  Mahabhisheka must be performed with “Vishnu SUktha”.  Janivaara in the combination of 9 threads must be offered as vanamaala to Lord Krishna.  While praying, his sister Subhadra must also be worshiped.  In the mid-night after taking bath Argya must be offered.  Arghya must be given after seeing the moon. Arghya must be given three times.  Arghya must be given in conch shell (Shanka).

Chandra Arghya mantra

                        “Kshherodhaarnavasambhootha! Athrinethra samudhbhava

                          Grahaanaargyam mayaa datham rohinyaa sahithaha shashin”

To Chandra Arghya must be given in water and milk.

Shri Krishna Arghya mantra

                        “Jaathaha Kamsvadaarthaaya Bhubhaarothaayacha

                          Kouravaanaam vinaashaaya dhythyaam nidhanaayacha”                   

“Paandavaanaam hithaarthaaya dharmasamsthaapanaayacha

 Grahaargyam maya datham rohinyaa sahithaha shashin”

To Lord Krishna, Arghya must be given in milk.

Source: - Sarva moola grantha by Shri Madwhacharya.

Author: J. Sudhindra Simha, Bangalore

Nine Kinds of Devotion

Nine kinds of Devotion

Devotion means love and friendship.   Developing respect and love towards a superior being based on knowledge of the superiority is Devotion. For example, we know there are people who are taking blessings of Shri Raghavendra Swamy without understanding the contribution of Shri Raghavendra Swamy towards the society. That type of devotion is not true devotion.  If the knowledge of Shri Raghavendra Swamy’s personality and his contributions(Granthas) are understood while performing services, then it becomes true devotion. The Bhagavantha(God) is omnipotent, He is eternal, He is existing everywhere, He has no birth or death, He is absolute, He is endless, He is ultimate, He is perfect.  One must understand the concept of Bhagavantha(God).   Understanding of Bhagavantha (God) in this manner is true devotion towards Bhagavantha(God).  The emotional devotion may be devotion without knowledge and true devotion is the devotion with knowledge.  The devotion has a particular order.  The ranking order is : Bhagavantha (God) , Goddess(Lakshmi), Deities, Gandharvas, Rishis, Sanyasis, Gurus, Daasas.  The concept of taratamya (ranking order) is inherent in the Shastra.  The devotion must not be stopped even if one comes across obstacles.  Prahalad’s devotion is a true devotion, because there was nobody to help him to understand that Bhagavantha(God) is supreme.  For the mistakes we commit we undergo punishment and it is not because of Bhagavantha(God).  Without understanding this we blame Bhagavantha(God) and our devotion diminishes when we are punished for our mistakes.  This type of devotion is emotional devotion.  Bhagavantha(God) can be appeased only if one shows pure devotion to Him.  Bhagavantha is anantha gunaparipurna.  He has no doshas(defects). Lord Krishna does not accept the invitation of Duryodhana, whereas He accepts the invitation of poor Sudhama as his devotion to Krishna was very pure.  This indicates how one should worship Bhagavantha(God).  Without any aspiration one should love Bhagavantha(God).  That is pure devotion.

1.     The glory of the Bhagavantha must be listened to. This is done by ears.

2.    The Bhagavantha(God) must be praised by prayers.  This is done by mouth.

3.      The Bhagavantha(God) must be remembered always.  This is done by mind.

4.     Paada sEve(Duty) of Bhagavantha must be done.  This is done through hands.

5.    Archana(Worship) of Bhagavantha(God) must be performed.  This is done by offering flowers and basil leaves to Bhagavantha.

6.    Offering prayers to Bhagavantha by stotras(hymns of praise) and kirtans(devotional songs).

7.    The concept of considering Bhagavantha(God) as Isha(Swamy, Supreme) and we as His Daasas(slaves) must be realized.

8.    Consider Bhagavantha(God) as your hitheyshi(well-wisher).

9.    Atma nivEdane, that is completely surrender yourself to Bhagavantha(God).

These are the nine devotions or in other words navavidha bhaktigalu.

Likewise, there are nine kinds of thoughts which are against Vaishnava Tatvas(truths).

1.     There is no difference between Jeeva and jeeva.  There is no difference between jeeva and jada.

2.     Thinking that Bhagavantha has no Gunas.

3.    There is difference in roopas of Bhagavantha’s avatars.  All rooopas of Bhagavantha are same but for different causes avatars were taken by Him. 

4.    Thinking that Vedavyasa and Kapila as Rishis and not Bhagavantha avatar.

5.    Thinking that Lakshmana and Balarama are avatars of Bhagavantha.

6.    Not accepting Vishnu as Sarvothama.  Thinking that Ganesha, Surya are Sarvothamas. 

7.    Thinking that Rudra, Brahma are all equal.

8.    Hating the devotees of Bhagavantha.

9.    Allegations on Bhagavantha.

Note: - Based on the lecture (pravachana) of Dr. Prabhanjanacharya.

Prepared by: - Sudhindra Simha. J, Bengaluru.